Valve



M. F. AHEARN VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED 8.27. 1919 1,314,726. Patented Supt. 2,1919.

j: 072 aYFj/I ear/2 MICHAEL F. AHEARN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed February 27, 1919. Serial No. 279,544.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL F. AHEARN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to radiator valves or trapssuch as are used for low pressure steam systems, or vacuum systems,where it is desired to allow the passage of all the air and water ofcondensation from the radiator and prevent the passage of steam.

There have heretofore been two types of such valves or traps used, onebeing the float type and the other the thermal or expansiontype, each ofwhich has certain well recognized objectionable features. For instance,the float trap will hold a certain ,amount of water, which may freeze ifthe system is out of operation. The thermal types are objectionablebecause they will not pass all the water at all temperatures and do notmaintain a uniform temperature in the radiator, as the return end of theradiator must cool sufiiciently to allow the trap to open before moresteam is admitted. Another serious objection to the thermal type is theexcessive pressure which is apt to injure or destroy theexpansionmember; and these traps also permit steam to pass before theybecome sufficiently heated to close the return.

The present invention is in the nature of a combination thermal andfloat trap, and has many of the desirable features of both of thesetraps, but without the objectionable features.

The objects of this invention are, to provide a trap which will pass allof the water from the radiator at all temperatures; which will actuateso that the return end. of the radiator or heating coil will be ofsubstantially the same temperature as the feed end; which-will have noexcessive pressureon the valve seat or expansion member; which willclose immediately after the Waterh'as passed; which will remain openwhen the system is not in operation and will hold no water; and whichmay be readily constructed and will be exceedingly efiicient and durablein operation.

My improved valve also has the further advantage of requiring noadjustment, and

the removable parts may be readily inserted. It also has such furtheradvantages as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line1-1 of Fig. 2, with parts broken away to show the interior construetion;and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated in these drawings, the valve or trap comprises a bodyportion 3, having a connection 4 for the outlet pipe 5 of the radiator,and an outlet aperture 6, which is preferably threaded for connectionwith the return pipe. This body portion has a valve seat 7 at thebottom, whlch seat may be in the nature of an aperture formed directlyin the bottom wall; or, if desired, a seat may be inserted in any wellknown manner. In the present instance, this seat is tapered toreceivefthe tapered valve or plug 8, which is adapted to close the same.This valve is carried by a float 9, which preferably has an annularlycorrugated bottom 10, so that the bottom will expand readily in order toactuate the valve. The float 9 is normally supported by a plurality ofradially arranged seats or projections 11, which may be formedintegrally with the body 3, and are preferably finished on their upperSurfaces to make an accurate seat for the float. This float is of theclosed type and maybe filled with air or other suitable expansiblefluid, or, if desired, may be partially filled with a suitableexpansible liquid.

The body is provided with a cap or cover 12, which may be screwed orotherwise fastened in osltion in order to make a tight closure. T 10 capis preferably provided with a downwardly extending projection 13, sothat the distance between the projection and the to of the float will beless than the length of the point of the valve 8 which extends below thefloor of the chamber, so that when the float rises, the valve willalways remain in operative positio in the valve seat or aperture.

The valve is so constructed that the outlet will be slightly open whenthe float is resting on the supports 11 and at the usual normaltemperature. In other words, the valve or trap is always open t normaltemperatures and the air and water of con- Idensation will be free topass from the radiator through the trap to the return pipe.

As soon as the float becomes heated, the air or liquid therein willexpand, and the float is so constructed that the bottom will be expandedor pressed downwardly at the center, thereby causing the valve 8 toengage with the seat 7 and close the trap against the passage of steam.If the trap becomes filled with water under these conditions, the float9 will be raised and will raise the valve 8 off the seat 7, so astopermit the discharge of the water; but as soon as the water isdischarged, the float again returns to its seat or support and the trapwill again be closed.

It will, of course, be noted that the body is arranged so that thebottom is sufliciently below the inlet aperture so that the float willbe actuated by the water caught in the trap. If the steam is shut off,or the heating system is out of operation, the float 9 will, of course,become gradually cooled and will contract, so that the valve 8 iswithdrawn from the valve seat 7 and permlts the dis-' charge of anywater remaining in the trap. This is also the action which occurs whenthe radiator becomes sufliciently cool so that additional steam isrequired.

From this description, it will be seen that I provide a thermo-floatvalve or trap which will be exceedingly sensitive, as well as positivein action, and one in which thereare few parts which are apt to becomeworn or get out of order. The only part which is apt to require renewalis the float, which may be readily renewed by removing the cap, and thena new float and valve may be inserted.

It will also be noted that this valve or trap may be made in varioussizes and shapes for different conditions, and the details ofconstruction may be varied without departing fromthe scope of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A trap of the character indicated, having a body portion with anoutlet in the bottom thereof, a plug for closing said outlet; a combinedfloat and expansion member secured to sald plug and adapted to actuatethe. same, and a support in said body portion to hold the combined floatand expansion member in normal position.

A trap of the character set forth, having an outlet aperture in thebottom thereof, a valve for said aperture, a combined'then mal and floatmember to which the valve is secured and supports in said trap for thethermal and float member, to hold the valve in normally open position,the arrangement being such that the thermal and float member will expandand close the valve when heated.

3. In an outlet valve for radiators, the

an outlet valve seat in the lower portion thereof, a valve adapted toco-act with said seat for closing the outlet, a float to which saidvalve is secured, and supports for holding said float so that the outletwill be open, said float having an expansible bottom whereby the valvewill be moved downwardly to closed position when the float is heated.

5. In an outlet trap for radiators, the combination of a body portionhaving an outlet aperture in the bottom thereof, a float having anexpansible bottom, supports for holding said float in a predeterminednormal position, and a closure carried by said bottom and adapted toco-act with said outlet aperture, the arrangement being such that "theoutlet is open at normal temperatures but will be closed when the floatis heated and will be opened when the float is raised.

6. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a bodyportion having an inlet opening in one side thereof, and an outlet atthe bottom thereof, a conical valve seat for controlling the outlet, anexpansible float in said body portion, shoulders for supporting thefloat in normal position, a conical valve carried by said float andcoacting with said valve seat, and a cap for said body portion, thearrangement being such that the valve will alwaysbe in engagement withthe valve seat during the movement of the float.

- MICHAEL F. AIIEARN.

